6 Easy, Cheap, Last-Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

It happens to everyone at least once in a lifetime: Halloween is here and the costume department is bare. Instead of over-spending money and time searching high and low for an original costume, here are six easy costumes that you can put together in minutes with items available at your local dollar store or already on hand at home.

Rosie the Riveter

If there’s ever a reason to showcase “girl power” it’s today. Make a statement as Rosie the Riveter, the cultural icon of World War II. Rosie represented the women who worked in factories and shipyards during this time, producing munitions and war supplies. All you need is jeans, a denim shirt, a red and white polka dot bandana, and you’re ready to hit the trick-or-treating route.

Materials:

Jeans

Jean Shirt

Red bandana

Bunch of Grapes

Whether you’re a kid who wants to make a big, purple impact on Halloween or an adult who loves wine, gather balloons and transform into a big bunch of grapes. Simply pin the tied end of the balloons to an oversized sweatshirt, tunic or dress.

Materials:

Purple balloons

Safety Pins

Minnie Mouse

Transform yourself into everyone’s favorite mouse in the house by donning a pair of ears, a black shirt, red skirt, and a smile.

Materials:

Minnie Mouse ears: make your own by gluing two cardboard ears to a headband and adding a red bow in front

Red skirt: go all out and add white circles (cut out of felt or an old sheet)

Black shirt or leotard

Bubble Bath

Indulge in some me time by transforming into a relaxing bubble bath. Simply safety-pin white balloons to a white shirt, pop on a colorful shower cap, arm yourself with a bath towel and wear a colorful bath pouf as a bracelet.

Materials:

White balloons

Safety pins

Shower cap

Bath pouf or sponge on a string to wear as a bracelet

Wednesday Addams

She’s creepy, kooky, and altogether spooky. Plus, it’s easier than ever to pull off her Halloween-ready look! Just don your fave little black dress, part your hair down the middle, and tie your hair into braids.

Materials:

Black dress: bonus points if it has a white collar!

Princess Leia

Yet another movie-inspired costume that requires just one item—a long white dress—and a special, easy-to-make hairdo: spacebuns! Check out a spacebun tutorial here.